If somebody were to ask you the question, who needs flood insurance? The obvious response to that question would be someone who lives in a flood zone. Someone who lives close to the shore in an area known to be at risk for flooding. And while that’s true anyone living in an area like that should have flood insurance, it may also be a good idea for people living in lower risk areas to get some flood coverage.

25% of all flood loss claims are filed in areas of low to moderate flood risk. Floods can happen even in areas that you wouldn’t think would be at high risk. It doesn’t always take a raging river overflowing its banks to cause flood damage. In a strong rainstorm the sewer system and storm drains can get backed up, become blocked, and then overflow. This can cause flood damage in areas where you would least expect it.

When floods do happen in a low-risk area too many people learn the hard way that flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. To be protected from flood damage you need to carry additional insurance. Fortunately for the people who live in low to moderate risk areas flood insurance can be obtained at very affordable rates. The rates vary according to how much coverage you need and the level of risk.

If you live right on the shore of a river with a history of flooding then you will definitely pay more for your coverage and it may even be difficult to obtain coverage in that situation. If you live in an area of low to moderate risk the cost will be substantially cheaper. In lower risk areas you can get policies that will cover your home and its contents starting at just $119 per year in premiums. And considering that just 2 inches of water inside your house can cause over $8,000 worth of damage an inexpensive policy like this may be a good idea.

A recent report has revealed that doorstep lenders are homing in on the UKs most financially deprived areas in an attempt to win customers who are being declined credit elsewhere.

Doorstep lending has been around since the early nineties, and although business died down for some time; as high street banks began to cater for bad credit customers the credit crunch has left the majority of these customers in a state of desperation.

As the name suggests, doorstep lending involves lending firms going direct to consumer’s doors where they often offer small cash sums, over short periods of time. The loan is then repaid on a weekly basis to a local agent who calls at the borrower’s home.

This considerable pressure, coupled with the vastly inflated interest rates has resulted in doorstep lending practices being heavily criticized by consumer groups over the years. Doorstep lenders defend their high interest rates, which can be as steep as 60% for a

In 1968 the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established to offer flood protection for property owners. The insurance is sold by private participating companies and the risk is backed by the federal government. The cost is the same at each participating company.

Standard homeowner policies DO NOT cover flood damage. One of the main coverage’s on a homeowner’s policy is for fire damage. Floods damage far more homes than fire so it is important to get a separate flood policy. There is a misconception that flood insurance is not necessary because of government disaster relief for flooded areas. The truth is that these relief programs are generally in the form of a loan. The loan then has to be repaid in addition to any payment you are already making for your home mortgage.

You can insure just your home or business or add coverage for your personal property at additional cost. It is also possible to get just the personal property coverage. This can be a good option if you are renting. The cost is typically around $400 per year (less for personal property only coverage). If you are in an area that is at high risk for flooding, the cost will be higher. Your insurance agent can give you the rate for your home. If your agent doesn’t sell flood insurance you can contact the NFIP at 800-427-4661. You can also find information at www.floodsmart.gov website. Texas residents can get information or a quote from my website at www.Texas-Flood-Insurance.com. There is a standard 30 day waiting period for flood insurance to go into effect. You can’t wait until a big storm threatens and get the insurance at the last minute!

Mortgage insurance fills the gap between the standard requirement of 20% down and an amount the borrower can more easily afford to put down on a purchase. Mortgage insurance is only needed if any one loan you have is for more than 80% of the value of your home. In This case you will be required by the bank to have PMI which will be discuss in further later. If a borrower has less than the 20% down payment needed to avoid a mortgage insurance requirement, they might be able to make use of a second mortgage (sometimes referred to as a “piggy-back loan”) to make up the difference. Mortgage Protection Insurance is now considered a tax deduction.

Mortgage

Mortgage protection insurance is essentially a life insurance policy designed to pay off your mortgage in case something happens to you or your spouse. It is insurance to offset losses in the case where a mortgagor is not able to repay the loan and the lender is not able to recover its costs after foreclosure and sale of the mortgaged property. The average costs of mortgage insurance premiums vary, but typically they fall between one-half and one percent of the loan amount, depending on the size of the down payment and loan specifics. PMI plays an important role in the mortgage industry by protecting a lender against loss if a borrower defaults on a loan and by enabling borrowers with less cash to have greater access to homeownership. For non-conforming mortgages, the lender may designate mortgage loans as “high risk.

PMI

A new federal law, The Homeowner’s Protection Act (HPA) of 1998, requires lenders or servicers to provide certain disclosures concerning PMI for loans secured by the consumer’s primary residence obtained on or after July 29, 1999. PMI allows borrowers to obtain a mortgage without having to provide 20% down payment, by covering the lender for the added risk of a high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage. PMI protects the lender if you default on the loan. The annual cost of PMI varies and is expressed in terms of the total loan value in most cases, depending on the loan term, loan type, proportion of the total home value that is financed, the coverage amount, and the frequency of premium payments (monthly, annual, or single).

There are Government loan products that also include a Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP), essentially the government equivalent of PMI. If you are a homeowner, you will want to be aware of a new law that establishes rights for homeowners and rules for lenders regarding private mortgage insurance (PMI) cancellation. So, you don’t like the idea of making those extra mortgage insurance payments. Without a doubt, private mortgage insurance has proven invaluable for families trying to attain the American dream of homeownership.